Gifts for solists

About this time, early November, I place gift ideas in the Passage's windows, even though many of us no longer give 'things'. For years, my friends and I have exchanged a tin of cookies or a fancy chocolate bar, and made a donation to one another's favourite causes.

But given that we're immersed in a once-in-a-hundred year event,  this holiday season I'm breaking the tradition for my friends who live alone—"soloists". Though even those in the most restricted locations can receive one visitor, each is grappling with lows, boredom and the tendency to forget that not all pants  have elastic waists.

In the window today, treats chosen for (but not limited to) those who live alone. Many are locally or Canadian-made, or sold by local vendors. 

One for tea

Fresh linens in the kitchen buck one up and aren't solely for drying.  A French girlfriend likes to lay her tray-table, on which she routinely dines while watching the news, with a 'tablecloth' that is a beautiful tea towel. One towel is a fine gift, or you could add a tin of an interesting tea.

Clockwise from top left: 
I especially like calendar tea towels; this 2021 towel from SpoonflowerHome (Etsy) features vintage cameras. Price, $CDN 32.
A towel and dishcloth set is a terrific idea; these are reasonably-priced. "Ankara" tea towel and dishloth from Simons; price for the set $CDN 10.25. Beat that!
Claire Manning "Mushroom" flour sack tea towel, $CDN 20 on the One of A Kind Craft Show site (until December 20).   
Mid-century block-print tea towel from themodernbloc (Etsy); price, $CDN $25. 

A ticket to the show

For film, a subscription to Criterion Channel is guaranteed hit—fancy a little Czech New Wave? They've set up a specific gift option on the "Subscribe" page, so you can buy from one to twelve months. (Begins at $US 11 for one month.)

For theatre, live-streaming is in its infancy but there are many outstanding performances available on demand. Check out Digital Theatre, a collaboration among Britain's leading theatre companies. The price is £9.99/month for unlimited access, accessible on any device, from any country, (FAQs here.) 

Marquee TV has been called "Netflix for the arts", and is available in the US, UK and Canada. It offers ballet, opera, dance, theatre on-demand and also optional some ticketed events. Subscription rates here; there is also a 14-day free trial if you would like to assess the platform. To access MarqueeTV, subscribers download the Marquee application. available for various operating systems.

Raising the Zoom game

We're Zooming, so why improve the quality? A good pair of headphones deliver much more resonant and audible sound—especially when other parties shuffle paper, type or turn away from the mic—and these go beyond the the hairy-kneed-tech look.

Wired is less expensive and just fine for Zooming, but you could also choose wireless, or earbuds. This is a more spendy gift but so helpful. 

 

Left to right: 

aHead by Kreafunk wireless headphones; Anthropologie; price $CDN 145.
Urbanears Plattan 2 wired headphones; shown, Beryl Red. Price $CDN 75.
Urbanears Alby silicon earbuds in Ultra Violet; price $CDN 100.

Because chocolate

Brook's Delectable Chocolates Milk Chocolate Almond Brittle is so fabulous that my entire family goes on high alert at the mention of the word "Brook's". This year it is available online until Dec. 20 on the One of A Kind Craft Show site. There are similar products around, but above all reigns Brook's.  Tiny bits will fall to the bottom of the bag; eat that on ice cream and then lick the bag. Price ranges from $CDN 20-$40.

You already know hand-made gifts are touching, so you might already be knitting her socks or cooking up jars of your signature pasta sauce.  

These ideas don't preclude the maintenance of the give-to-a-cause gift, but as days here grow dark and we're all a bit bereft this year, a prezzie says you care, whether you observe Christmas or not.